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Denver Broncos: In Need of Offensive Line Help

By Khaled Abdallah

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The Denver Broncos have done quite a bit of under the radar work this offseason in terms of adding free agents. The Broncos have added some rotational players and dependable veterans through the additions of tight end Owen Daniels and Darian Stewart but have yet to fully address a major need, the offensive line. The team allowed free agent tackle Orlando Franklin to sign with the San Diego Chargers and have only brought in one free agent so far, guard Shelly Smith from the Miami Dolphins.

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Shelly Smith has played for three teams in his five year career, the Houston Texans, St. Louis Rams, and Miami Dolphins but has only started 11 games so far. He was drafted in the sixth round out of Colorado State by Gary Kubiak and spent two years in Houston with him. One would assume that Smith knows Kubiak’s zone-blocking system and that was likely a factor in the the Broncos signing him. They have also signed other players such as Daniels who are also familiar with the head coach’s system.

Despite the signing of Smith, the Broncos still have two major needs that need to be filled, center and right tackle. The Broncos drafted Matt Paradis in the sixth round last season and his athleticism should make him a nice fit in the zone blocking scheme. There is a player out there in former Houston Texans center Chris Myers who the Broncos should focus all of their efforts in signing.

Sep 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans center Chris Myers (55) in a game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Myers spent six years in Houston, five of which were under Kubiak, and of course is very familiar with his coach’s system. He also began his career as a member of thje Denver Broncos when the team drafted him in the sixth round of the 2005 draft. There seems to be a bit of a theme here with offensive linemen being taken in the sixth round but I digress. Myers has tremendous experience and can plug right in to the Denver offensive line and Kubiak’s system and it gives Peyton Manning another veteran presence to rely on.

The situation at right tackle is a bit more tenuous after Franklin walked but the Broncos did select a right tackle in the third round of last year’s draft in Michael Schofield. The former Michigan Wolverine has excellent size at 6’6″, 301 pounds and could slot in if the team trusts him to protect Manning. Schofield also played guard in college and could do the same if the Broncos bring in a replacement.

The question the Broncos must answer is if they would be willing to draft a right tackle and risk placing him in the starting lineup. We see rookie offensive linemen succeed from time to time but playing with Peyton Manning calls for a different level of focus and ability. The Broncos may end up drafting a physically talented player but he may not be up to speed in time to sync with Manning’s offense.

We all know that teams are built in the trenches and it is especially the case with a team lead by Manning. He is very demanding of his offensive line and he has been let down in previous years. If the Broncos are to make one last push for the Super Bowl with Manning at the helm then they must focus a great deal of effort in to getting him the best offensive line that money, or draft picks, can buy.

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